Conveyer mechanism for container capping apparatus



Aug- 23, 1949. E. M. ENKUR ET' AL 2,479,822

CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR CONTAINER CAPPING APPARATUS Aug. 23, 1949. 'E. M. ENKUR ET AL 2,479,822

CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR CONTAINER CAPPING APPARATUS Original Filed A'ug. 3, 1940 5 Sheets sheet 2 Aug. 23, 1949. 9 E. M. ENKUR Er Al. 2,479,822

CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR CONTAINER CAPPING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fig-4 :216

Patented ug. 23, 1949 CONVEYER MECHANISM FOR vCONTAINER, CAPPING APPARATUS Edward M. Enkur, Babylon, N. Y., and Leo F. Pahl and Louis L. Lauve, Baltimore, Md., as-` signors to Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New York Original application August 3, 1940, Serial No.

351,004, now Patent No. 2,433,549, dated December 30, 1947.

Divided and this application November 6, 1944, Serial No. 562,110

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to container capping apparatus and is a division of our original application Serial No. 351,004 for Container sealing apparatus iiled August 3, 1940, Patent No.

2,433,549, issued December 30, 1947.

An object of the invention is to provide an arrangement f-or centering containers and for holding them upright during the application of caps thereto.

Apparatus including an inclined cap chute beneath which containers move to remove a cap may be unsatisfactory with containers having a small base because contact of the container mouths with the caps in the chute is apt to cause such containers to be tilted backwardly.

Previous devices for centering and gripping containers during cap application include endless belts moving about xed pulleys, with small 1 movable elements to force the central portion of the inner run of the belt inwardly at a point adjacent the cap applying station. A disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the small movable elements may have lcontainer contents spilled upon them with the result that they will become gumrny and fail to move properly.

The present mechanism is -characterized by the fact that no small movable parts are provided in the structure adjacent the cap applying means but, on the other hand, the entire structure is bodily movable to freely center and grip the containers.

Other objects .and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the container centering structure shown in side elevation at the central portion of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the container centering element, the view being taken from the right of Figure 3 or from the bottom of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

In the following description of the invention,

the apparatus is described as operating to ap- `the cap skirt will engage beneath the container mouth shoulder when the cap is in sealed position. Such caps are provided with a sealing ring or disc on the under side of their top wall to bear upon the top edge of the container mouth to form an air-tight seal. It will be understood that the apparatus may be used with numerous other types of caps.

The construction and operation of the apparatus may be generally described as follows: Caps Aof the type described are placed in tray 22 with their skirts downward and are moved by hand to the inclined chute 23 of the tray so as to slide down upon the central portion of a continuously rotating disc'f24. Rotation of the disc 24 will :cause the caps to be moved outwardly on the disc adjacent its periphery and through an outlet portion to move upon a continuously moving endless chain as described in said Patent No.

2,433,549 which will conduct Vthe cap to the left in Figure 1 between suitable lateral and top guiding members comprising the horizontal portion 2T of a cap passageway. This horizontal portion 2l terminates in an inclined chute 28 forming a continuation of the cap passageway. Chute 28 is also provided with lateral and top guide means and terminates in a cap applying or leveling mechanism described in said original application.

Containers B are delivered to the machine upon an endless conveyor 30 (Fig. 1) and move toward the left beneath the structure described immediately above to come in contact with the lowermost cap in the applying or leveling mechanism. At the time that the container contacts with the skirt of the lowermost cap, the side walls of the container will be firmly engaged by opposed endless belts included in the container cenfface of a` capping'element 33 of a construction generally similar to that disclosed in the Patent No. 2,256,413 issued September 16, 1941, on an application of Robert J. Stewart for Container sealing apparatus, element 33 being vertically adjustable to operate, upon containers of various heights. In order that the fabric belt 32, which Vis of greater length than the inner capping belt 33, will move at substantially the same speed as 3 the latter belt, a tensioned roller 34 is provided at the outer end of belt 32 and a weighted roller 35 is provided above capping element 3 ,3'1toh9ld the upper run of fabric belt '32 yin contact with the capping element 33.

Referring in detail to the construction of the apparatus, the machine preferably includes a table or base portion 40 which forms a f'continllous support for the endless container supporting conveyor 30. A

Referring to Figure 1, a in'otor ,iand a Vspeed reducer including a drivenvshaft 52 .'ar'e supported upon the under side ofthe table "50. The driven shaft 52 of the speed reducer .is provided with a small sprocket 53 which *drivesa sprocket chain 54 also encircling a vvsprocket-55iilredto ka shaft 55 journalled in the outfeed end of Athe table 40. The links of the container supporting conveyor 3|! move about a sprocket wheel secured to shaft 56.

v'In order to support thevfariou's mechanisms which apply caps and seal them upon the containers at a suitable height above the container .supporting element 1,30, `the machine includes a longitudinally extending superstructure 51 including spaced bars 58 extending 'from the infeed end o-f theapparatus to the capping mechanism, while a plate element 59 comprises the superstructure for the capping mechanism. The superstructure 51 is supported above thetable 4|) b y means of pairs of heavy links 6|,'6'2 and 53 .spaced from the outfeedto the infeed end of the machine, each pair of links comprising a link .on each side of the supporting table and superstructure.

The llinksl to 163 are pivotedat their respec- Vtive ends to the superstructure and Atable and thereby support the .superstructure fin parallel relation with the upper surface-of the tabledll.

I n order that the superstructure 51 maybe supported at a fixedV height and its height adjusted with respect to-base 40, va pair .of rotatable `threaded shafts 1| extending .betweenthe Abase or table and the superstructure-are provided. This constructionris similar tothat disclosedin said Stewart patent. y

In order to prevent the containers from being tilted Vbackwardly by their :initial engagement with the lowermost cap in the chute,A wer-provide @the centering and holding structure 3| best illustrated in Figures 2 to 6. This -structureisfpar- Vtieulariy desirable 'in the handling of full containers havingI a smallbase,

The container centering mechanism may be generally described asA comprising two sets ofr driven belts 2||J 'positioned on :eachgrside of v.the longitudinal center line Aof theV container supporting conveyor 30. 'As best y'slib-irri in"Figures :land 3, each set of vbelts comprises anupp'erbelt anda lower'be'lt adapted to contact with a'conf tainer at vertically `spaced points on the side wall of the container.

The centering "structure is `suDDOrted on the superstructure bars 53. The.' drive 'andsu'pportdriven 'in "a manner hereinafter'described. A vhousing or gear'case "215 is supported'between the 'arms 2|'3 ofa bracket 2|2,'the housingbeing fin effect pivoted upon thejshaft'2 i4.' Within'th'e :housing 2 5 shaft" 2 |4 `hasy xedtheretoja" bevelled zgear f2 I6 --which meshes fwith a bevelled gear '2 xed as best shown in Figure 6 to a vertical shaft section 2|8 journalled in the bossed lower wall of the housingf2l5. Shaft 'section 218 is thus movable'about the drive shaft 2|4 with the hous- Vertical shaft section 2I8 is connected by a universal joint 2|9 to a lower vertical shaft section 229 journalled in a generally triangular plate element 22|. Plate 22| has xed thereto an outwardly projecting bracket 222 including integral ear members 223 at its outer end in which a trunnion element `221| is rotatably mounted. The trunnion element 224 is generally of the form of a ,pin having a threaded aperture extending therethrough intermediate the ears 223 and this threaded aperture receives the lower and threaded end of a rod 225. The upper end of rod 225 is threaded in the opposite direction from its lower end and extends through a trunnion pin 22M which isl rotatably mounted between ears 2230, of -afb'racket 222er fixed to the lower bossed wall ofgear-casing 2|5.

It will be noted that the above mounting of the triangular plate element 22| permits this plate to be fixed in Various planes at an angle to the surface of the container supporting conveyor 3|] vsimply by rotation of the threaded rod 225, the universal joint between the vertical shaft sections 2|8and1225 enabling such adjustment to be made without interfering withl the drive of the lower shaft section. Y

Beneathplate 22| the `lower shaft section 22E) has xed thereto a vpair of pulleys 228 and 229 grooved to receive vbelts 2|0. As best indicated .iniFigure 5, the shaft section 223 is positioned ad- 'idlerpulleys are journalled upon studs 232 which Yare horizontally movable longitudinally of the center lline .of container supporting conveyor 35 in slots 233 formed inV plate 22|, In order to Vcause the innerruns of the belts 2| 0 to have firm Contact with a Container moving between the belts at a pointimidway between the idler pulleys 230 and 23|, a. pair of longitudinally spaced idler Vrolls 235 .aremounted on the inner edge of plate 22|.Y As best shown in Figure 6, each idler roll :235 is of suioient-length to .contact with both of the belts 2|!) carried by the corresponding plate 22|. The idler rolls 235 are journalled upon pins .-236 xed in a plate 23'! which includes -a rearwardly extending arm 238 slotted so that its position .with respect totriangular plate 22| may be `adjusted inwardly -and outwardly with respect tothe center linejof the container supporting conveyor 30. As `indicated-in Figure 6, a pair -o fbolts .239.,enablethe plate E317-to be locked in the desired adjusted position with respect to the triangular plate 22|. Y

VInV order that the triangular plate 22| lwill be securely held and braced at the desired angle with respect to the upper housing 2|5 afterthe .shafts 22E-have loeenadjusted, the bracket 222 secured to plate 22| is provided Awith an off-set ,upwardly projecting armr2d5having an aperture therein which will be aligned with an off-set and downwardly projecting arm 24tsecured to the Ylower wall of the housing "2|5. A lar-ge thumb screw 241V extends through the apertures in the `arms`2li5 and 2,156 and the aperture in the latter arm is'threaded. By'this arrangement the two 'arrnsmay be 'rigidly'lo'ckedin the desired relationship tohold 'the'triangular plate 122| at'the desired'a'ngle with respect to the housing '2 l5.

The entire structure for supporting each pair of centering belts 2li), including the correspond- `ing housing 2I5, is urged to a position tomaintain the belts 2H] inwardly toward the container supporting conveyor center line and thereby into firm contact with containers by a spring 250 (Figure 3) which extends between a bracket 25| fixed to the inner surface of the corresponding superstructure bar 58 and an arm 252 extending down- `wardly from one side of the corresponding housing 215 and fixed with respect Vto fthe housing. As best shown in Figure 6, the inward swinging movement of the .entire centering structure about the axes of the drive `shafts 2M is limited by plates 255 carried by a rod 255, the plates 255 serving as abutments which will be contacted by studs 251 which project inwardly from the extreme lower portion of each 4housing 2|5. The rod 256 is mounted for rotation in plates 252iA extending downwardly from the' superstructure bars 58, being adapted to be rotated by a handle which may be attached to one end thereof. The portions of rod 256 which engage, the abutments 255 are'oppositely threaded so `that rotation of the rod will cause the abutments to be simultaneously moved toward and away from each other.

.The abutments 2-55 are also apertured at one' end to slide upon a rod 260 (Figure 2) which, extends nbetween the superstructure bars`l58.

yIn operation, it is desirablfv to vhave fthe longitudinally central portion ofl the inner `runs of the centering belts 2H) sopositioned that they respect to the cap chute 28 that a leading portion of the mouth of the container has just contacted with the depending skirt of the lowermost cap in the chute and some force is therefore acting upon the container to tilt it rearwardly. By having the container firmly gripped between the converging portions of the belts 230 at this time, the container will be securely held against tilting movement. During the subsequent portion of the process of removing the cap from the chute 28, the container will be even more rmly gripped by the portion of the belts 2H) extending between the inwardly positioned idler rolls 235 and the converging portions of the belts 2li] will also be in rm contact with the container at the moment that the latter moves under belt 32.

The belts 2l0 are preferably of sufliciently resilient material that they will have some inherent gripping action upon the container. However, the above described gripping action is primarily obtained by the action of the springs 250 which tend to swing the entire centering belt supporting structure inwardly about the axis of the drive shafts 2 l 4. The abutments 255 will actually serve to limit this swinging movement so that the belts will not be so close together as to upset a container moving into initial contact with the same.

It is usually desirable to have the centering belts 2m so positioned with respect to the surface of the container supporting conveyor 30 that a container will be gripped substantially midway of its height. However, if a container has its walls curved along vertical lines as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3, it is usually the best practice to have the belts 2IU so positioned that the belts of each set will bear upon the side surface of the container at points spaced above and below the greatest diameter of the container. The provision of vertically spaced belts 2|0 in each set of belts of course permits the containers to be gripped at vertically spaced points, thereby further preventing tilting movement of the containers during the cap applying operation.

Numerous types of containers are taperedl to have reduced portions `either at their upper or lower ends and itwill be observed that the centering belt construction disclosed therein is adjustable to cause the-upper and lower bolts 2IU of eachset to have proper Contact with `such conytainers. That is, by loosening the thumb screws 241 and making the necessary adjustment of the threaded rods 225, the., inner surfaces of the sets angle with respect to each other. Height of the belts 2 lwith respect to the container supporting conveyorwill, of course, be adjusted by adjust- Aing the ,height of the superstructure bars 58.

The drive shafts 2ii for` the centering belts `2H) extend alongside thesuperstructure bars 58 as best shown in Figure 2 and, as indicated in Figurevl, extend intorthe housing Si at the infeed end of the `machine where they are connected bysproclet chains and other suitable drive Vconnecting means to the shaft 512 of speed reducer 5l so that the belts will move at the same speed as ,the container supporting conveyor 3). This drive connecting means includes shaft 92 and the chains 95, S8 and l2, as set forth in our said Patent No. 2,433,549.

Subject matter disclosed but not claimed here in may be claimed in our application Serial No. 635,552 for Container capping structure, filed December 17, v1945, which is alsoV a division of the application for our said Patent No. 2,433,549.

YThe terminology used in the specication is for the purpose of description and not limitation, the scope of the invention being indicated in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a capping apparatus, a base, a container supporting conveyor, a pair of support elements pivotally mounted with respect to said base on horizontal axes spaced above said conveyor, endless container centering belts supported by and movable in an endless path dened by said support elements, and means to drive said belts at the same speed as said conveyor.

2. The combination in a capping apparatus, of a base, a container supporting conveyor movable on said base, a support spaced above said base, a pair of opposed carriers pivotally mounted on said support, endless container engaging belts movable about and bodily supported by said carriers, and means to adjust said carriers to vary the plane in which said belts move.

3. The combination in a capping apparatus, of a base, a container supporting conveyor movable on said base, a support spaced above said base, a pair of opposed carriers pivotally mounted on said support, endless container engaging belts movable about and bodily supported by said carriers, and resilient means to urge said carriers and belts toward each other.

4. In a container capping apparatus, a base, conveyor means to move containers along said base, a framework supported above said base, drive shafts journalled in said framework and extending parallel to said conveyor means, supporting elements respectively pivoted on said shafts, a series of pulleys carried by each of said supporting elements, a shaft journalled in each of said supporting elements and operatively connected to one of said pulleys, and endless container engaging belts movable about said pulleys.

5. In a container capping apparatus, a base,

conveyof nienn'si to move'- eontaineife ,azong said 'base ar homework; supporte@ iliove'. Said? Baise',

drive shafts kjouir;eiledi in said; mein-ewan@- and extending parallel to Safid convey-r mensfsupporting elements respectifveijypivote@ on seid stiaiitsg ai kSeries of' pil-leys carried byeieiioff' supporting eiements,. a; siifsift-V jouinelledin eeen Y@if smid supporting elements: anzi operatively coninec'teet te oney of! said piilifys'l, endless' Goifitaef intermediate their lferrgtha4 6. In a container' capping appazietuuf conitaffilnerN supporting conveyor, each off saiii plan-ar eleiierisl beingi provided spa-cetiE Slots iriaV is forward endl extending parallel? with the` -eonminer supporting conveyor and? afrearwardiy dispos'ed journal; adriving vpulley mounted sid rear" journai, pulleys mounted' ini'the viiitvtl-aifd slots, 'albeit extending aioutsaiid pulleys; apmein ber mounted intermediate saidtwo'. lest-named puleys;A and pulleys carried by sai-ii memberto hold the centrar portion ofi' the run f the'beii; between said forward puli'eyfsf beyond the"l plane`Y of theifbrwamd' pulleys;

V'7. In a container capping apparatus, ai container supporting conveyor, a: base, pianr eie'- ments' supported by said base above' opposite '3'0" sde's oftie cente'reiine of' saidi containerV supiportingJ conveyor; eacifr of senin piain'sn'i elements being provided wit-ir spaced' s1ots-in its forward end" extending' pamilei`1 with the container* supporting conveyor-and= a, rearwardly disoos'edjonn- '35 vSinn; fa: amon'fsfni'ey mounted in mi@ journal',

--teneiings @been said pulieysg, endpuueys mounted oie-naifeiementi between smi forward few/afd @miem ..s.sA;eo-nitaziner @poing eppemtus of the; chai'- denedl ini Gleim; 4: including resilient ineens ifo toumgeitlireaspoorlnngi elements about the resoec- @me Shafts# anni toward the centen line-of we'ctmveyi z EDWARD .y LEG"l F.

y REFERENCES CITED The'fc5ll'owiirg references aYe of' record fnti'i'e 

